Ontology of the Absolute

শ্রী গৌड़िয-কন্ঠহার

Gaudiya Kanṭhahāra:

The Jeweled Necklace of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas

Being a compendium of quotations from revealed scriptures

concerning the truths about the cult of Chaitanya Mahāprabhu

Compiled under the authority and direction of

His Divine Grace

Bhaktisiddhānta Sāraswāti Goswāmī

Prabhupada

The 7th Jewel:

KṚṢṆA-TATTVA

The section that follows begins by asserting the supremacy of the Kṛṣṇa conception and continues with an ontological analysis of the various forms, expansions, and avatars of Kṛṣṇa with an analysis of their respective positions in the hierarchy of the absolute. This analysis, for example of the cater-vyuha forms is mostly taken from the Chaitanya Caritamṛta of Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Goswāmī, who in turn follows the analysis of Rūpa and Sanātana, Jīva, Gopal Bhatta and Ragunātha Dāsa Goswāmi.

The 7th Jewel:

KṚṢṆA-TATTVA

৭.৪৪

কৃষ্ণের স্ৱরূপ-ৱিচার শুন, সনাতন অদ্ৱয-জ্ঞান-তত্ত্ৱ, 

ৱ্রজে ৱ্রজেন্দ্র-নন্দন সর্ৱ-আদি, সর্ৱ-অংশী, কিশোর-শেখর

চিদ্-আনন্দ-দেহ, সর্ৱাশ্রয, সর্ৱেশ্ৱর 

স্ৱযং ভগৱান্ কৃষ্ণ, ঽগোৱিন্দঽ পর নাম 

সর্ৱৈশ্ৱর্য-পূর্ণ যাঙ্র গোলোক নিত্য-ধাম

7.44

kṛṣṇera svarūpa-vicāra śuna, sanātana advaya-jñāna-tattva, 

vraje vrajendra-nandana sarva-ādi, sarva-aṁśī, kiśora-śekhara

cid-ānanda-deha, sarvāśraya, sarveśvara 

svayaṁ bhagavān kṛṣṇa, 'govinda' para nāma 

sarvaiśvarya-pūrṇa yāṅra goloka nitya-dhāma 

[Caitanya Mahāprabhu said] O Sanātana, please hear about the eternal form of

Lord Kṛṣṇa; He is the Absolute Truth, devoid of duality, but present in

Vṛndāvana as the son of Nanda Mahārāja. Kṛṣṇa is the original source and

sum total of everything. He appears as the Supreme Youth. His body is composed of spiritual bliss. He is the shelter of everything and the master of everything. God Himself, svayam bhagavān is Śrī Kṛṣṇa, His supreme name is Govinda, He is full in all opulence, and His eternal abode is Goloka Vṛndāvana.

 (Cc. Madhya 20.152-153,155)

The Vedas Speak of the Pastimes of the Supreme
Lord

७.४५

अपश्यं गोपामनि-पद्यमानमा च परा च पथिभिश् चरन्तम्

स सध्रीचीः स विषूचीर्वसान् आवरीवर्ति- भुवनेस्वन्तः

7.45

apaśyaṁ gopāmani-padyamānamā ca parā ca pathibhiś carantam

sa sadhrīcīḥ sa viṣūcīrvasān āvarīvarti- bhuvanesvantaḥ

I saw a gopāla before me, but could not understand if He came from nearby or

from far away. He wanders from place to place at different times, adopting

different modes of dress. In this way He comes again and again to establish and

withdraw His transcendental pastimes within this material world. 

(Ek Veda Maṇḍala, 22, Anuvāka, 164 Sūkta, 31 Ek) 

By serving Kṛṣṇa, the Universe is Satisfied

७.४६

यथा तरोर् मूल-निषेचनेन 

तृप्यन्ति तत्-स्कन्ध-भुजोपशाखाः 

प्राणोपहाराच् च यथेन्द्रियाणां 

तथैव सर्वार्हणम् अच्युतेज्या

7.46

yathā taror mūla-niṣecanena 

tṛpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopaśākhāḥ 

prāṇopahārāc ca yathendriyāṇāṁ 

tathaiva sarvārhaṇam acyutejyā

By pouring water on the root of a tree, all the leaves and branches are

automatically nourished. In the same way, by offering service to the lotus feet of

Viṣṇu, all other purposes are satisfied. Just as by offering food to the stomach,

all the limbs of the body are satisfied, similarly, by offering service to Kṛṣṇa the

entire universe is satisfied. 

(Bhāg. 4.31.14) 

The Demigods are Never Envious of Kṛṣṇa

७.४७

हरिर् एव सदाराध्यः सर्वदेवेश्वरेश्वरः

इतरे ब्रह्मा-रुद्राद्या नावज्ञेयाः कदाचन

7.47

harir eva sadārādhyaḥ sarvadeveśvareśvaraḥ 

itare brahmā-rudrādyā nāvajñeyāḥ kadācana 

Śrī Hari alone should be worshiped as the supreme master of the universe.

Brahmā, Śiva and all the demigods never violate this principle at any time.

(Padma Purāṇa)

७.४८

अहं सर्वस्य प्रभवो मत्तः सर्वं प्रवर्तते

इति मत्वा भजन्ते मां बुधा भाव- समन्विताः

7.48

ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate

iti matvā bhajante māṁ budhā bhāva- samanvitāḥ

I am the origin of everything. From Me everything emanates. The wise who

know this perfectly engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all

their hearts. 

(Bhagavad-gītā 10.8)

Kṛṣṇa Appears in Three Categories of Forms
Svayaṁ-rūpa, Tadekātmā-rūpa and Aveśa-rūpa

७.४९

स्वयं-रूप, तद्-एकात्मा-रूप, आवेश नाम प्रथमेइ तिन-रूपे रहेन भगवान्

7.49

svayaṁ-rūpa, tad-ekātmā-rūpa, āveśa nāma prathamei tina-rūpe rahena bhagavān

That Supreme Personality of Godhead. Kṛṣṇa appears in His selfsame form as

svayam-rūpa, in His first expansion as tad- ekātmā-rūpa, and in His empowered manifestations, known as āveśa. 

(Cc. Madhya 20.165)

The Two Divisions of Svayaṁ-rūpa

৭.৫০

ঽস্ৱযং-রূপঽ ঽস্ৱযং-প্রকাশঽ দুই রূপে স্ফূর্তি 

স্ৱযং-রূপে এক ঽকৃষ্ণঽ ৱ্রজে গোপ-মূর্তি

7.50

'svayaṁ-rūpa' 'svayaṁ-prakāśa' dui rūpe sphūrti 

svayaṁ-rūpe eka 'kṛṣṇa' vraje gopa-mūrti

Kṛṣṇa reveals Himself in two forms, as svayam- rūpa, His own form) and

svayam-prakāśa (His own manifestation). Svayam-rūpa is Kṛṣṇa Himself in

Vṛndāvana, in the figure of a cowherd boy. 

(Cc. Madhya 20.166)

Two Divisions of Svayaṁ-rūpa Prābhava and Vaibhava-

৭.৫১

ঽপ্রাভৱ-ৱৈভৱঽ-রূপে দ্ৱিৱিধ প্রকাশে এক-ৱপু বহু রূপ যৈছে হৈল রাসে

7.51

'prābhava-vaibhava'-rūpe dvividha prakāśe eka-vapu bahu rūpa yaiche haila rāse

An example of prābhava-prakāśa is when the Lord accepts two or more identical forms for the sake of enjoying His pastimes, just as He accepted many

identical forms during the rāsa-līlā. 

(Cc. Madhya 20.167)

Prābhava-vilāsa: Expanding Many Forms to Marry Thousands of Queens

৭.৫২

মহিষী-ৱিৱাহে হৈল বহু-ৱিধ মূর্তি

ঽপ্রাভৱ প্রকাশঽ এই শাস্ত্র-পরসিদ্ধি

7.52

mahiṣī-vivāhe haila bahu-vidha mūrti

'prābhava prakāśa' ei śāstra-parasiddhi

In order to marry 16,108 queens, Kṛṣṇa accepted 16,108 forms. These forms are known as prābhava-vilāsa, and the scriptures have declared they are all trancendentally perfect.

 (Cc. Madhya 20.168) 

Vaibhava-prakāśa

৭.৫৩

সেই ৱপু, সেই আকৃতি পৃথক্ যদি ভাসে ভাৱৱেশ-ভেদে নাম ঽৱৈভৱ-প্রকাশেঽ

7.53

sei vapu, sei ākṛti pṛthak yadi bhāse bhāvaveśa-bhede nāma 'vaibhava-prakāśe'

If a form is differently manifested, according to different emotional features, it

is called vaibhava-prakāśa. 

(Cc. Madhya 20.171) 

Examples of Vaibhava prakāśa

৭.৫৪

ৱৈভৱ-প্রকাশ কৃষ্ণের শ্রী-বলরাম ৱর্ণ-মাত্র-ভেদ, 

সব কৃষ্ণের সমান ৱৈভৱ-প্রকাশ যৈছে দেৱকী-তনুজ

দ্ৱিভুজ-স্ৱরূপ কভু, কভু হয চতুর্ভুজ্

7.54

vaibhava-prakāśa kṛṣṇera śrī-balarāma varṇa-mātra-bheda, 

saba kṛṣṇera samāna vaibhava-prakāśa yaiche devakī-tanuja

dvibhuja-svarūpa kabhu, kabhu haya caturbhuja

The first manifestation of the vaibhava feature of Kṛṣṇa, known as vaibhavaprakāśa,

is Śrī Balarāma. Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa have different bodily colors, otherwise Balarāma is equal to Kṛṣṇa in all respects. Another example of vaibhava-prakāśa is Kṛṣṇa as the son of Devakī. He sometimes has two hands and sometimes has four hands. (Cc. Madhya

20.174,175)

Prābhava-prakaśa--The Four-handed Vāsudeva form of Kṛṣṇa is an example of Prābhava-vilāsa

৭.৫৫

যে-কালে দ্ৱিভুজ, নাম ৱৈভৱ-প্রকাশ চতুর্ভুজ হৈলে, নাম প্রাভৱ-প্রকাশ স্ৱযং-রূপের গোপ-ৱেশ, 

গোপ-অভিমান ৱাসুদেৱের ক্ষত্রিয-ৱেশ, ঽামি ক্ষত্রিযঽ-জ্ঞান সৌন্দর্য, ঐশ্ৱর্য, মাধুর্য, 

ৱৈদগ্ধ্য- ৱিলাস ৱ্রজেওদ্র-নন্দনে ইহা অধিক উল্লাস

7.55

ye-kāle dvibhuja, nāma vaibhava-prakāśa caturbhuja haile, nāma prābhava-prakāśa svayaṁ-rūpera gopa-veśa, gopa-abhimāna vāsudevera kṣatriya-veśa, 

'āmi kṣatriya'-jñāna saundarya, aiśvarya, mādhurya, vaidagdhya- vilāsa

vrajeodra-nandane ihā adhika ullāsa 

When the Lord is two-handed, He is called vaibhava-prakāśa, and when He is

four-handed, He is called prābhava-prakāśa. In His original form, the Lord dresses like a cowherd boy and thinks Himself one of them. When He appears as Vāsudeva, the son of Vasudeva and Devakī, His dress and consciousness are those of a kṣatriya. When one compares the beauty, opulence, sweetness, and intellectual pastimes of Vāsudeva, the warrior, to that of Kṛṣṇa, the cowherd son of Nanda Mahārāja, one sees that Kṛṣṇa's attributes are more pleasant.

(Cc. Madhya 20.176-178) 

The definition of Tad-ekātma-rūpa or "non different form"

৭.৫৬

সেই ৱপু ভিন্নাভাসে কিছু ভিন্নাকার ভাৱৱেশাকৃতি-ভেদে ঽতদ্-একাত্মঽ নাম তাঙ্র

7.56

sei vapu bhinnābhāse kichu bhinnākāra bhāvaveśākṛti-bhede 'tad-ekātma' nāma tāṅra 

When the Lord's form is a little differently manifest and its features a slight

different in transcendental emotion and form, it is called tad-ekātma-rūpa. 

(Cc. Madhya 20.183)

Two Divisions of Tad-ekātma-rūpa

৭.৫৭

তদ্-একাত্মা-রূপে ঽৱিলাসঽ, ঽস্ৱাংশঽ দুই ভেদ ৱিলাস,

স্ৱাংশের ভেদে ৱিৱিধ ৱিভেদ

7.57

tad-ekātmā-rūpe 'vilāsa', 'svāṁśa' dui bheda vilāsa,

 svāṁśera bhede vividha vibheda

In the tad-ekātma-rūpa there are two divisions pastime expansions (vilāsa) and

personal expansions (svaṁśa). According to pastime and personal expansion,

there are various differences. 

(Cc. Madhya 20.184)

Two Divisions of Vilāsa Prābhava and Vaibhava

৭.৫৮

প্রাভৱ-ৱিলাস ৱাসুদেৱ, সঙ্কর্ষণ প্রদ্যুম্ন, অনিরুদ্ধ, মুখ্য চারি-জন

7.58

prābhava-vilāsa vāsudeva, saṅkarṣaṇa pradyumna, aniruddha, mukhya cāri-jana 

The chief quadruple expansions are named Vāsudeva, Saṅkarśaṇa, Pradyumna,

and Aniruddha. These are called prābhava vilāsa. 

(Cc. Madhya 20.186)

Balarāma is a Vilāsa Form

৭.৫৯

ৱ্রজে গোপ-ভাৱ রামের, পুরে ক্ষত্রিয-ভাৱন 

ৱর্ণ-ৱেশ-ভেদ, তাতে ঽৱিলাসঽ তাঙ্র নাম

7.59

vraje gopa-bhāva rāmera, pure kṣatriya-bhāvana 

varṇa-veśa-bheda, tāte 'vilāsa' tāṅra nāma 

Balarāma, who has the same original form as Kṛṣṇa, is Himself a cowherd boy

in Vṛndāvana. He also considers Himself to belong to the kṣatriya race in

Dvārakā. Thus His color and dress are different, and He is called a pastime

(vilāsa) form of Kṛṣṇa. (Cc. Madhya 20.187) 

Vaibhava-prakāśa and Prābhava-vilāsa Forms:
Classified according to Different Moods and Pastimes

৭.৬০

ৱৈভৱ-প্রকাশে আর প্রাভৱ-ৱিলাসে

এক-ই মূর্ত্যে বলদেৱ ভাৱ-ভেদে ভাসে

7.60

vaibhava-prakāśe āra prābhava-vilāse

eka-i mūrtye baladeva bhāva-bhede bhāse 

Lord Balarāma is a vaibhava-prakāśa manifestation of Kṛṣṇa. He is also

manifest in the original quadruple expansion of Vāsudeva, Saṅkarśaṇa, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha. These are prābhava- vilāsa expansions with different emotions. 

(Cc. Madhya 20.188)

From That Prābhava-vilāsa Comes the Catur-vyūhas, 4-fold expansions
Which are Vaibhava-vilāsa Features of the Lord

৭.৬১

আদি-চতুর্-ৱ্যুহ ইঙ্হার কেহ নাহি সম

অনন্ত চতুর্ৱ্যুহ-গণের প্রাকট্য-কারণ

7.61

ādi-catur-vyuha iṅhāra keha nāhi sama

ananta caturvyuha-gaṇera prākaṭya-kāraṇa

The first expansion of the catur-vyūha is unique. There is nothing to compare

with them. These quadruple forms are the source of unlimited quadruple forms.

(Cc. Madhya 20.189)

The Original Catur-vyūha 4-fold expansions are the Lords in
Mathurā and Dvārakā

7.62

kṛṣṇera ei cāri prābhava-vilāsa

dvārakā-mathurā-pure nitya iṅhāra vāsa 

These four prābhava-vilāsa pastime forms of Lord Kṛṣṇa reside eternally in

Dvārakā and Mathurā. 

(Cc. Madhya 20.190) 

The Twenty-four Principle Expansions From the Original Catur-vyūha are Known as Vaibhava-vilāsa--

৭.৬৩

এই চারি হৈতে চব্বিশ মূর্তি পরকাশ

অস্ত্র-ভেদে নাম-ভেদ ৱৈভৱ-ৱিলাস

7.63

ei cāri haite cabbiśa mūrti parakāśa

astra-bhede nāma-bheda vaibhava-vilāsa

From the original quadruple expansions, twenty- four forms are manifest. They

differ according to the placement of weapons in Their four hands. They are

called vaibhava-vilāsa. (Cc. Madhya 20.191) 

The Original Catur-vūyha Expands into Vaikuṇṭha

৭.৬৪

পুনঃ কৃষ্ণ চতুর্-ৱ্যূহ লঞা পূর্ৱ-রূপে পরৱ্যোম-মধ্যে

 ৱৈসে নারাযণ-রূপে তাঙ্হা হৈতে পুনঃ চতুর্-ৱ্যূহ-পরকাশ 

আৱরণ-রূপে চারি-দিকে যাঙ্র ৱাস

7.64

punaḥ kṛṣṇa catur-vyūha lañā pūrva-rūpe paravyoma-madhye 

vaise nārāyaṇa-rūpe tāṅhā haite punaḥ catur-vyūha-parakāśa 

āvaraṇa-rūpe cāri-dike yāṅra vāsa

Lord Kṛṣṇa again expands, and within the spiritual sky, He is situated in

fullness as the four-handed Nārāyaṇa, accompanied by expansions of the

original quadruple form. Thus, the original quadruple forms again manifest

Themselves in a second quadruple expansion. The residences of these second

quadruple expansions cover the four directions. 

(Cc. Madhya 20.192,193)

Further Expansions of the Second Quadruples

৭.৬৫

চারি-জনের পুনঃ পৃথক্ তিন তিন মূর্তি

কেশৱাদি যাতা হৈতে ৱিলাসের পূর্তি

7.65

cāri-janera punaḥ pṛthak tina tina mūrti

keśavādi yātā haite vilāsera pūrti

Again these quadruple forms expand three times, beginning with Keśava. That

is the fulfillment of the pastime forms. (Cc. Madhya 20.194)

Svāṁśa Expansions Appear in the Material
World

৭.৬৬

সঙ্কর্ষণ, মৎস্যাদিক, দুই ভেদ তাঙ্র সঙ্কর্ষণ পুরুষাৱতার, লীলাৱতর আর

7.66

saṅkarṣaṇa, matsyādika, dui bheda tāṅra saṅkarṣaṇa puruṣāvatāra, līlāvatara āra

The first personal expansion is Saṅkarṣaṇa, and the others are incarnations like

the fish incarnation. Saṅkarṣaṇa is an expansion of the Puruṣa, or Viṣṇu. The

incarnations such as Matsya appear in different ages for specific pastimes, and

are known as līlā-avatāras. 

(Cc. Madhya 20.244) 

Six Kinds of Avatāras

৭.৬৭

অৱতার হয কৃষ্ণের ষড্-ৱিধ প্রকার 

পুরুষাৱতার এক, লীলাৱতার 

আর গুণাৱতার, আর মন্ৱন্তরাৱতার 

যুগাৱতার, আর শক্ত্যাৱেশাৱতার

7.67

avatāra haya kṛṣṇera ṣaḍ-vidha prakāra 

puruṣāvatāra eka, līlāvatāra 

āra guṇāvatāra, āra manvantarāvatāra 

yugāvatāra, āra śaktyāveśāvatāra

There are six types of avatāras of Kṛṣṇa: Personal Avatāras of Viṣṇu (puruṣaavatāras),

pastime incarnations (līlā-avatāras), incarnations that control the modes of nature (guṇa-avatāras), Avatāras as Manu (manvantara-avatāras),

incarnations in different milleniums (yuga- avatāras), and śaktyāveśa-avatāras, or empowered incarnations.

(Cc. Madhya 20.245,246)

Gaudiya Kanthahara Krishna tattva: The Truth about Shri Krishna

শ্রী গৌड़िয-কন্ঠহার

Gaudiya Kanṭhahāra:

The Jeweled Necklace of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas

Being a compendium of quotations from revealed scriptures

concerning the truths about the cult of Chaitanya Mahāprabhu

Compiled under the authority and direction of

His Divine Grace

Bhaktisiddhānta Sāraswāti Goswāmī

Prabhupada

The 7th Jewel:

KṚṢṆA-TATTVA

७.३८

यच्-छौच-निःसृत-सरित्-प्रवरोदकेन तीर्थेन मूर्ध्न्य् अधिकृतेन शिवः

 शिवो ऽभूत् ध्यातुर् मनः-शमल-शैल-निसृष्ट-वज्रं ध्यायेच् चिरं भगवतश् चरणारविन्दम्

7.38

yac-chauca-niḥsṛta-sarit-pravarodakena 

tīrthena mūrdhny adhikṛtena śivaḥ śivo '

bhūt dhyātur manaḥ-śamala-śaila-nisṛṣṭa-vajraṁ 

dhyāyec ciraṁ bhagavataś caraṇāravindam

The blessed Lord Śiva is all the more blessed by bearing on his head the holy waters of the Ganges, which has its source in the water that washed the Lord's lotus feet. The Lord's lotus feet act like thunderbolts hurled to shatter the mountain of sin stored in the mind of the meditating devotee. One should therefore meditate on the lotus feet of the Lord for a long time. 

(Bhāg. 3.28.22)

७.३९

सूत उवाच

यं ब्रह्मा वरुणेन्द्र-रुद्र-मरुतः स्तुन्वन्ति दिव्यैः स्तवैर्

वेदैः साङ्ग-पद-क्रमोपनिषदैर् गायन्ति यं साम-गाः

ध्यानावस्थित-तद्-गतेन मनसा पश्यन्ति यं योगिनो

यस्यान्तं न विदुः सुरासुर-गणा देवाय तस्मै नमः

7.39

sūta uvāca

yaṁ brahmā varuṇendra-rudra-marutaḥ stunvanti divyaiḥ stavairvedaiḥ sāṅga-pada-kramopaniṣadair gāyanti yaṁ sāma-gāḥ 

dhyānāvasthita-tad-gatena manasā paśyanti yaṁ yogino yasyāntaṁ na viduḥ surāsura-gaṇā devāya tasmai namaḥ

I offer my obeisances unto Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Brahmā, Rudra, Indra, Varuṇa and all the other demigods glorify Him by chanting transcendental hymns and reciting the Vedas and Upaniṣads. He is

the Supreme Person of whom the chanters of the Sāma Veda always sing. The perfected yogis see Him within their minds after fixing themselves in trance and absorbing themselves within him. His limit can never be found by any demigod

or demon. 

(Bhāg. 12.13.1)

৭.৪০

অসঙ্খ্য ব্রহ্মার গণ আইল তত-ক্ষণে দশ-বিশ-শত-সহস্র-অযুত-লক্ষ-ৱদন কোট্য্-অর্বুদ মুখ কারো,

 না যায গণন রুদ্র-গণ আইলা লক্ষ কোটি-ৱদন

ইন্দ্র-গণ আইলা লক্ষ কোটি-নযন

দেখিঽ চতুর্মুখ ব্রহ্মা ফাঙ্পর হ-ইলা হস্তি-গণ-মধ্যে যেন শশক রহিলা

আসিঽ সব ব্রহ্মা কৃষ্ণ-পাদ-পীঠ-আগে দণ্ডৱৎ করিতে মুকুট পাদ-পীঠে লাগে 

কৃষ্ণের অচিন্ত্য-শক্তি লখিতে কেহ নারে যত ব্রহ্মা, তত মূর্তি এক-ই শরিরে

পাদ-পীট-মুকুটাগ্র-সঙ্ঘট্টে উঠে ধ্ৱনি পাদ-পীঠে স্তুতি করে মুকুট হেন জানিঽ

যোড-হাতে ব্রহ্মা-রুদ্রাদি করযে স্তৱন

7.40

asaṅkhya brahmāra gaṇa āila tata-kṣaṇe daśa-biśa-śata-sahasra-ayuta-lakṣa-vadana koṭy-arbuda mukha kāro, 

nā yāya gaṇana rudra-gaṇa āilā lakṣa koṭi-vadana indra-gaṇa āilā lakṣa koṭi-nayana

dekhi' caturmukha brahmā phāṅpara ha-ilā hasti-gaṇa-madhye yena śaśaka rahilā

āsi' saba brahmā kṛṣṇa-pāda-pīṭha-āge daṇḍavat karite mukuṭa pāda-pīṭhe lāge 

kṛṣṇera acintya-śakti lakhite keha nāre yata brahmā, tata mūrti eka-i śarire

pāda-pīṭa-mukuṭāgra-saṅghaṭṭe uṭhe dhvani pāda-pīṭhe stuti kare mukuṭa hena jāni'

yoḍa-hāte brahmā-rudrādi karaye stavana

"baḍa kṛpā karilā prabhu, dekhāilā caraṇa

bhāgya, more bolāilā 'dāsa' aṅgīkari' kon ājñā haya, 

tāhā kari śire dhari' "

The countless Brahmās had different numbers of heads. Some had ten, some twenty, some one hundred, some one thousand, some ten thousand, some one hundred thousand, some ten million, others one hundred million. No one could

count the number of heads they had. Many Śivas with many heads also arrived there. Some of them had heads numbering one hundred thousand and ten million. Many Indras also arrived with millions of eyes all over their bodies.

When the four-headed Brahmā of this universe saw all these opulences of Kṛṣṇa, he became very bewildered and considered himself a rabbit among many elephants. All the Brahmās who came to see Kṛṣṇa offered their respects at His lotus feet, and when they did this, their helmets touched His lotus feet. No one can estimate the inconceivable potency of Kṛṣṇa.

All the Brahmās who were there were resting in the one body of Kṛṣṇa. When all their helmets struck together at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, there was a tumultuous sound. It appeared

that the helmets themselves were offeringprayers unto Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet. With folded hands the Brahmās and Śivas began offering prayers unto Lord Kṛṣṇa saying, "O Lord, You have shown me great favor. I have been able to see Your

lotus feet "All of them said, "It is my great fortune, Lord, that You have called me, thinking of me as Your servant. Now let me know what is Your order, so

that I may carry it on my heads."

 (Cc. Madhya 21.66-74)

This World is Maintained by an Expansion of an Expansion of an Expansion of Kṛṣṇa

७.४१

यस्यांशांशांश-भागेन विश्वोत्पत्ति-लयोदयाः 

भवन्ति किल विश्वात्मंस् तं त्वाद्याहं गतिं गता

7.41

yasyāṁśāṁśāṁśa-bhāgena viśvotpatti-layodayāḥ 

bhavanti kila viśvātmaṁs taṁ tvādyāhaṁ gatiṁ gatā

O Kṛṣṇa, You are the soul of the universe. You bring about the creation, sustenance, and dissolution of the universe by Your minutest part. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You and surrender myself before You. 

(Bhāg. 10.85.31)

The Form of Kṛṣṇa is as Lord of Vṛndāvana, With two Hands Holding the Flute

७.४२

कृष्णो ऽन्यो यदु सम्भूतो यः पूर्णः सो ऽस्त्यतः परः

वृन्दावनं परित्यज्य स क्वचित् नैव गच्छति

7.42

kṛṣṇo 'nyo yadu sambhūto yaḥ pūrṇaḥ so 'styataḥ paraḥ

vṛndāvanaṁ parityajya sa kvacit naiva gacchati 

The Kṛṣṇa known as Yadu-kumāra is Vāsudeva Kṛṣṇa; He is different from the Kṛṣṇa who is the son of Nanda Mahārāja. Yadu- kumāra manifests His pastimes in the cities of Dvārakā and Mathurā, but Kṛṣṇa never leaves Vṛndāvana.

(Laghu-bhāgavatāmṛta, Pūrva-khaṇḍa 165)

७.४३

द्विभुजः सर्वदा सो ऽत्र न कादचित् चतुर्भूजः

गोप्यैकया युतस् तत्र परिक्रीडति नित्यदा

7.43

dvibhujaḥ sarvadā so 'tra na kādacit caturbhūjaḥ

gopyaikayā yutas tatra parikrīḍati nityadā 

That original Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, always manifests two arms. He never manifests four arms; He is always at the right hand side of the foremost

gopī, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. 

(Laghu- Bhāgavatāmṛta, Pūrva-khaṇḍa 165) 

Creative Minds

Creative Minds

Early the next morning we jumped in a taxi with ¨Twin¨and rode to the famous ¨Market 28¨ to see the 

Creative Minds tattoo studio where he works with his brother, ¨Happy.¨

Twin and Happy haven´t had it easy. They learned their art chops in the school of hard knocks, tagging walls, spray-painting abandoned boxcars in train-yards, tattooing bad guys and doing huge murals at urban art fairs across Mexico. As my brother traveled across the United States they would follow, living at times in San Diego, California, Richmond Virginia, or Salt Lake City, Utah. They picked up a sensitivity for urban art as it has been expressed in barrios and communities in the United States and Mexico.

While both are versatile graffiti and tattoo artists, Twin concentrates on images, while Happy’s forte is lettering. Being a tattoo artist is quite demanding as one needs to lay down a fluid line with no hesitation. Blink and the needle slips. Twin and Happy are in demand not only as tattoo artists, but as clothing designers. They’re in the midst of developing a line of t-shirts and hoodies with urban themes.

I confess that I find their themes shocking at times; there are many examples of memento mori in their work: Skulls, daggers, knives and pistols feature prominently and remind us that this life is temporary, that death lurks behind the next street lamp. 

And yet the violence in their art mirrors the violence that terrorizes the streets of Mexico and East L.A. 

Their work reflects the gang culture that permeates Latino barrios from Whittier to Tepito. And yet neither Happy nor Twin use specific gang tags in their work. They pay tribute to no particular underworld society, but play with the themes that are common within those urban subcultures.

If you look closely at Twin’s work, you can see that he is playfully nostalgic for the good old days of East L.A., when the “chicana” or “chola” girls wore their hair long and black, when the mandatory “look” was jeans, bien planchados and a pendleton shirt buttoned only at the collar worn over a white t-shirt. 

His take on the “homies” is especially rich, coming from a deep realization of two cultures, more Mexican than “chicano” more tropical than strictly “cholo.”

Together, the twins have collaborated on a myriad of projects. Their art lives on the living flesh on those they have tattooed, and on walls from Echo Park to Cancun. It's impossible for me to reproduce their catalogue here, but a few drawings will suffice.

Whether it's a love-struck cholo offering balloons and roses...

...or the object of his romantic gestures with a rose in her hair and a flower in her fedora...Twin's observations of life in the barrio have a certain nostalgic sweetness for the 1970s in East L.A.

Sometimes his paintings are stark and shocking.

A joint-smoking tiger devours a cobwebbed skull as a rat offers him a light. And yet, while some might find these these images morally outrageous, Twin and Happy are two of the gentlest people I've ever met. 

Of the two identical twins, Happy is quite soft-spoken and projects his mother's serious and practical side, while Twin is gregarious and easy-going with his father's grin and sense of humour. Being together with them reminded me of my brother and the good times we used to have.

Aurora with the twins

Before they left, we had a chance to go to the beach together.

At Mandala Beach in Cancun

I used to take his father Philo to Sunset Beach when we were kids. Now his son took me to one of the greatest beaches in Cancun, Mandala beach. It's funny how karma works.

I was only in Cancun for a couple of days, but felt that I was fortunate to get to know my nephews. But as suddenly as we met, they were called away to Los Angeles, California for a convention of tattoo artists. 

Their work is being taken up and celebrated by the Los Angeles version of Creative Minds as well as by artists like David van Gough http://www.davidgoughart.com as well as the Lower Left in Hollywood.

Twin and Happy with artist friends...

Commercial work by Twin and Happy. 

Twin, Modeling a "hoodie" wit one of his designs.

I wish Twin and Happy a lot of success. Good luck, gentlemen.

Incidents of Travel to the Yucatan

Vacation Time

After spending time in and out of hospitals for the last six months, and recovering from a “non-invasive” heart procedure, it was time for me to take a break.

In July, I had planned to revisit the Mayan region of Mexico with Aurora. We had been there on our honeymoon in 1993. At that time we saw the important Mayan ruins near Merida at Labna, Sayil, Kabah, Uxmal, and Chichen Itza. 

 Snake Staircase of Chicen Itza Pyramid in Yucatan.

In 1993, we finished with a visit to Cancun to see my brother Philo, who I hadn’t seen in years. This time, Philo had passed away. He lost his fight against cancer 3 years ago. 

Phil with the twins and Coral

But distance and work responsibilities kept me from seeing his widow and my nephews in Cancun until now. I thought I would combine the trips. Aurora and I would visit the beach and see how Merida and Cancun had changed. I’m working on a film about Angkor Wat in Cambodia and am intrigued by some of the parallels between the pyramids of Yucatan and the temples of Vishnu and Shiva in Angkor.

Naga sculpture in Angkor

 The trip would allow me to investigate more about the ancient civilization of the Maya and any possible parallels between the two cultures. At the same time I’m collaborating with translator friend Teresa Loret/Tapanandini Devi on some publications and translation projects such as Gaudiya Kanthahara in Spanish Gaudiya Kantahara as translated into Spanish by Tapanandini

So I really had four different goals: A bit of a romantic getaway; anthropological research; see my long-lost nephews; and see my translator. That was back in July. The doctor said "no." After all the analysis and "procedures" I finally got the green light to go after Christmas.

We made arrangements to meet my nephews in Cancun and, after two bus rides and a 4-hour flight delay, caught the VivaAerobus from Mexico City. We arrived at the famous tropical paradise at night.

I should add that my nephews are twins: Joshua and Uriah. Expert tattoo and graffiti artists, they go by “Happy” and “Twin.”

The twin known as "Twin" drove us home from the airport.

"Happy," Me, and "Twin"

Krishna-tattva: Beauty over power as the highest conception of Godhead

শ্রী গৌड़िয-কন্ঠহার

Gaudiya Kanṭhahāra:

The Jeweled Necklace of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas

Being a compendium of quotations from revealed scriptures

concerning the truths about the cult of Chaitanya Mahāprabhu

Compiled under the authority and direction of

His Divine Grace

Bhaktisiddhānta Sāraswāti Goswāmī

Prabhupada

The 7th Jewel:

KṚṢṆA-TATTVA

७.२६

ईश्वरः परमः कृष्णः सच्-चिद्-आनन्द- विग्रहः

अनादिर् आदिर् गोविन्दः सर्व-कारण-कारणम्

7.26

īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ sac-cid-ānanda- vigrahaḥ

anādir ādir govindaḥ sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam 

Kṛṣṇa, who is known as Govinda, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He

has a transcendental form of eternal bliss and knowledge. He is the origin of all

and the cause of all causes. 

(Brahmā-saṁhitā 5.1)

৭.২৭

পরম ঈশ্ৱর কৃষ্ণ স্ৱযং ভগৱান্ সর্ৱ-অৱতারী, সর্ৱ-কারণ-প্রধান অনন্ত ৱৈকুণ্ঠ, 

আর অনন্ত অৱতার অনন্ত ব্রহ্মাণ্ড ইহাও, সবার আধার সচ্-চিদ্-আনন্দ-তনু, 

ৱ্রজেন্দ্র-নন্দন সর্ৱৈশ্ৱর্য, সর্ৱশক্তি সর্ৱরস-পূর্ণ

7.27

parama īśvara kṛṣṇa svayaṁ bhagavān sarva-avatārī, sarva-kāraṇa-pradhāna ananta vaikuṇṭha, āra ananta avatāra ananta brahmāṇḍa ihāo, sabāra ādhāra sac-cid-ānanda-tanu, vrajendra-nandana sarvaiśvarya, sarvaśakti sarvarasa-pūrṇa

The supreme controller is Kṛṣṇa, the original

Bhagavān. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the fountainhead of all incarnations and the cause of

material creation. He is the source of the innumerable Vaikuṇṭha planets as

well as innumerable incarnations. In the material world there are innumerable

universes, and Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme resting place for all of them. The

transcendental body of Kṛṣṇa is eternal, full of bliss and knowledge. He is the

son of Nanda Mahārāja. He is full of all opulences and potencies, as well as all spiritual mellows.

 (Cc. Madhya 8.134-136) 

The Definition of "Bhagavān"

७.२८

ऐश्वर्यस्य समग्रस्य वीर्यस्य यशसः श्रियः 

ज्ञान-वैराग्ययश् चैव सण् णां भग इतीगणा

7.28

aiśvaryasya samagrasya vīryasya yaśasaḥ śriyaḥ 

jñāna-vairāgyayaś caiva saṇ ṇāṁ bhaga itīgaṇā 

One who is complete in the six opulences of wealth, power, fame, beauty,

knowledge, and renunciation is known as Bhagavān. 

(Viṣṇu-Purāṇa 6.5.74)

৭.২৯

যাঙ্র ভগৱত্তা হৈতে অন্যের ভগৱত্তা

ঽস্ৱযং-ভগৱান্ঽ-শব্দের তাহাতেই সত্তা

7.29

yāṅra bhagavattā haite anyera bhagavattā

'svayaṁ-bhagavān'-śabdera tāhātei sattā 

Only that Lord who is the source of all other divinities is eligible to be

designated as svayam bhagavān.

 (Cc. Ādi 2.88) 

Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Master, the Supreme Enjoyer,
and the Independent Lord

৭.৩০

আনের কি কথা, বলদেৱ মহাশয যাঙ্র ভাৱ শুদ্ধ-সখ্য-ৱাৎসল্যাদি-ময তেঙ্হো আপনাকে করেন দাস-ভাৱনা কৃষ্ণ-দাস-ভাৱ ৱিনু আছে কোন জনা সহস্র-ৱদনে যেঙ্হো শেষ-সঙ্কর্ষণ দশ দেহ ধরিঽ করে কৃষ্ণের সেৱন অনন্ত ব্রহ্মাণ্ডে রুদ্র সদাশিৱের অংশ গুণাৱতার তেঙ্হো, সর্ৱ-দেৱ-অৱতংস তেঙ্হো করেন কৃষ্ণের দাস্য-প্রত্যাশ নিরন্তর কহে শিৱ, ঽমুঞি কৃষ্ণ-দাসঽ কৃষ্ণ-প্রেমে উন্মত্ত, ৱিহ্ৱল দিগম্বর কৃষ্ণ-গুণ-লীলা গায, নাচে নিরন্তর

পিতা-মাতা-গুরু-সখা-ভাৱ ক্নেএ নয কৃষ্ণ-প্রেমের স্ৱ-ভাৱে দাস্য-ভাৱ সে করয এক কৃষ্ণ সর্ৱ-সেৱ্য, জগত্-ঈশ্ৱর আর যত সব, তাঙ্র সেৱকানুচর সেই কৃষ্ণ অৱতীর্ণ চৈতন্য-ঈশ্ৱর অতএৱ আর সব, তাঙ্হার কিঙ্কর

কেহ মানে, কেহ না মানে, সব তাঙ্র দাস যে না মানে, তার হয সেই পাপে নাশ

7.30

ānera ki kathā, baladeva mahāśaya yāṅra bhāva śuddha-sakhya-vātsalyādi-maya teṅho āpanāke karena dāsa-bhāvanā kṛṣṇa-dāsa-bhāva vinu āche kona janā sahasra-vadane yeṅho śeṣa-saṅkarṣaṇa daśa deha dhari' kare kṛṣṇera sevana ananta brahmāṇḍe rudra sadāśivera aṁśa guṇāvatāra teṅho, sarva-deva-avataṁsa teṅho karena kṛṣṇera dāsya-pratyāśa nirantara kahe śiva, 'muñi kṛṣṇa-dāsa' kṛṣṇa-preme unmatta, vihvala digambara kṛṣṇa-guṇa-līlā gāya, nāce nirantara

pitā-mātā-guru-sakhā-bhāva knee naya kṛṣṇa-premera sva-bhāve dāsya-bhāva se karaya eka kṛṣṇa sarva-sevya, jagat-īśvara āra yata saba, tāṅra sevakānucara sei kṛṣṇa avatīrṇa caitanya-īśvara ataeva āra saba, tāṅhāra kiṅkara

keha māne, keha nā māne, saba tāṅra dāsa ye nā māne, tāra haya sei pāpe nāśa

Not to speak of others, even Lord Baladeva is full of emotion like pure

friendship and paternal love towards Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He also considers Himself a

servant of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Indeed, who is there who does not consider himself a

servant of Kṛṣṇa. The thousand-mouthed Śeṣa Himself serves Kṛṣṇa by  assuming ten forms. Rudra, who is an expansion of Sadāśiva, and who appears in unlimited universes is also a guṇa-avatāra and is the crown jewel of all the

demigods in the endless universes, but he also desires only to serve Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

He always says, "I am Kṛṣṇa dāsa, a servant of Kṛṣṇa." He becomes overwhelmed and dances naked while continuously singing about Kṛṣṇa's qualities and pastimes. All different transcendental emotions that are directed

towards Kṛṣṇa, be they those of father, mother, guru, or friend, are imbued with the sentiments of service towards the Lord. That is the nature of kṛṣṇa-prema.  Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the only lord and master of the universe, is worthy of being served

by everyone. Everyone is merely a servant of His servants. That same Śrī Kṛṣṇa

has now descended as Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Everyone therefore is also a servant of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Some accept Him, whereas others do not, but in any case, everyone is His servant. One

who does not accept Him, however, will be ruined by his sinful activities. 

(Cc. Ādi 6.76-85)

Kṛṣṇa is the Cause of all Causes

७.३१

तेनैव हेतु-भुतले वयं जाता महेश्वरि 

कारणं सर्व-भूतानां स एकः परमेश्वरः

7.31

tenaiva hetu-bhutale vayaṁ jātā maheśvari

 kāraṇaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ sa ekaḥ parameśvaraḥ

 [Śiva said to Parvatī] O Maheśvarī, controller of the world, we have taken birth

as instruments to serve the will of the Supreme Person. He alone is the Parameśvara, the Supreme Controller, the master of everyone, and the ultimate

cause of all living beings.

 (Skanda Purāṇa) 

Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Shelter of Everything

७.३२

दशमे दशमं लक्ष्यम्- आश्रिताश्रय-विग्रहम् 

श्री कृष्णख्यं परं धाम जगद्-धाम नमामि-तत्

7.32

daśame daśamaṁ lakṣyam- āśritāśraya-vigraham 

śrī kṛṣṇakhyaṁ paraṁ dhāma jagad-dhāma namāmi-tat

The tenth canto of Śrīmad-bhāgavatam describes the ten items which is the

shelter of all the sheltered beings. His is called Lord Kṛṣṇa and is the ultimate

shelter of both the material and spiritual worlds. I offer my humble obeisances

unto Him. 

(Bhāg. 10.1.1. Bhāvārtha-Dīpikā) 

Kṛṣṇa is the Original Person

৭.৩৩

অৱতার সব পুরুষের কলা, অংশ স্ৱযং-ভগৱান্ কৃষ্ণ সর্ৱ-অৱতংস কৃষ্ণ এক সর্ৱাশ্রয, কৃষ্ণ সর্ৱ-ধাম

কৃষ্ণের শরীরে সর্ৱ-ৱিশ্ৱের ৱিশ্রাম স্ৱযং ভগৱান্ কৃষ্ণ, কৃষ্ণ সর্ৱাশ্রয পরম ঈশ্ৱর কৃষ্ণ সর্ৱ-শাস্ত্রে কয

7.33

avatāra saba puruṣera kalā, aṁśa svayaṁ-bhagavān 

kṛṣṇa sarva-avataṁsa kṛṣṇa eka sarvāśraya, kṛṣṇa sarva-dhāma

kṛṣṇera śarīre sarva-viśvera viśrāma svayaṁ bhagavān kṛṣṇa, 

kṛṣṇa sarvāśraya parama īśvara kṛṣṇa sarva-śāstre kaya

All the incarnations of Godhead are plenary portions or parts of the plenary

portions of the puruṣāvatāras, but the primeval Lord is Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the fountainhead of all incarnations. He is the shelter and abode of everything all the universes rest in His body. Thus Śrī

Kṛṣṇa is the primeval Lord, the source of all other expansions. This is proclaimed in all the revealed scriptures. 

(Cc. Ādi. 2.70,94,106)

On the Basis of Rasa, Kṛṣṇa is Superior to
Nārāyaṇa

৭.৩৪

সিদ্ধান্ত-তস্-ত্ৱ-ভেদে ঽপি শ্রীশ-কৃষ্ণ- স্ৱরূপযোঃ

রসেনোত্-কৃষ্যতে কৃষ্ণ- রূপমেষা রসস্থিতিঃ

7.34

siddhānta-tas-tva-bhede 'pi śrīśa-kṛṣṇa- svarūpayoḥ

rasenot-kṛṣyate kṛṣṇa- rūpameṣā rasasthitiḥ 

Although Nārāyaṇa and Śrī Kṛṣṇa are one and the same, on the basis of the

fact that Śrī Kṛṣṇa exhibits the super excellence of conjugal mellow, He is

considered superior. In Him alone do all rasas find their final and absolute

expression.

 (Bhakti-Rasāmṛta Sindhu, Pūrva- vibhāga, 2.59)

Nārāyaṇa is the Opulent-Pastime Expansion of
Kṛṣṇa

७.३५

नारायणस् त्वं न हि सर्व-देहिनाम् आत्मास्य् अधीशाखिल-लोक-साक्षी

 नारायणो योगं नर-भू-जलायनात् तच् चापि सत्यं न तवैव माया

7.35

nārāyaṇas tvaṁ na hi sarva-dehinām ātmāsy adhīśākhila-loka-sākṣī 

nārāyaṇo 'ogaṁ nara-bhū-jalāyanāt tac cāpi satyaṁ na tavaiva māyā

O Lord of lords, You are the seer of all creation. You are indeed everyone's

dearest life. Are You not, therefore, my father; Nārāyaṇa? Nārāyaṇa refers to

one whose abode is in the water born from Nara [Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu], and that Nārāyaṇa is Your plenary portion. All Your plenary portions are

transcendental. They are absolute and are not creations of maya. 

(Bhāg. 10.14.14)

7.36

hariṁtvekaṁ tattvaṁ viddhi-śiva-sūreśa- praṇamitaḥ yadevedaṁ brahma prakṛtirahitaṁ tattanumahaḥ parātmā tasyāṁśo jagadanugato viśvajanakaḥ sa vai radhā-kānto nava-jalada-kāntiścidudayaḥ 

Brahmā, Śiva, and Indra offer their obeisances to Śrī Hari as the only Supreme Truth. The undifferentiated Brahman effulgence is simply the emanation from

His holy body. The creator, maintainer, and Supersoul of the material universe are only expansions from Him. That Lord whose complexion is the color of a rain cloud, who sports in transcendental pastimes in his original form as the lover of Śrī Rādhā is known as Śrī Kṛṣṇa and He is the Absolute Truth 

(Daśamūla Śikṣā)

The Demigods Recognize Kṛṣṇa as Supreme

७.३७

अथापि यत्-पाद-नखावसृष्टं जगद् विरिञ्चोपहृतार्हणाम्भः सेशं 

पुनात्य् अन्यतमो मुकुन्दात् को नाम लोके भगवत्-पदार्थः

7.37

athāpi yat-pāda-nakhāvasṛṣṭaṁ jagad viriñcopahṛtārhaṇāmbhaḥ seśaṁ 

punāty anyatamo mukundāt ko nāma loke bhagavat-padārthaḥ

Who could be worthy of the name "Supreme

Personality of Godhead" but Śrī Kṛṣṇa? Brahmā, the creator of the universe, col- lected the water emanating

from the nails of Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet to give to Śiva as a worshipful welcome.

This very water, the Ganges, is purifying the whole universe including Lord

Śiva. (Bhāg. 1.18.21)

On Vacation

The blog has been on hiatus for the past two weeks. I've been vacationing in Yucatan. I will return tomorrow with some new material. Thanks for checking in.